The International Organization for Migration said that 15 people died and 150 others were missing when a boat with 300 passengers capsized on Monday near the capital of Mauritania, Nouakchott.

One of the most dangerous migration routes in the world is the Atlantic route, which runs from West Africa's coast to the Canary Islands. This route is typically taken by African migrants who are trying to reach Spain. The summer is the busiest season.

The IOM reported that the Mauritanian Coastguard rescued 120 persons and that 10 were taken to hospital while efforts to find the missing continued.

The passengers had spent seven days on the sea prior to the shipwreck, and were said to be from Gambia.

Ibba Saar, a fishmonger in a waterside market in Nouakchott said that strong wind in the past two days had moved the bodies nearer to the shore. He saw around 30 bodies collected from the beach.

Sarr said by phone that "certainly other dead bodies will be found in the next two day."

He said that the pirogue, which was damaged, was 400 metres from the market.

Mauritanian authorities have not responded to a comment request.

IOM reported that between Jan. 1, 2024 and July 15, 2024, more than 19,700 migrants arrived in the Canary Islands via the Atlantic route. This represents a 160% rise compared to last year's same period.

Walking Borders, a group that advocates for migrants' rights, said in June that a record number of nearly 5,000 migrants have died at sea trying to reach Spain. (Reporting and writing by Kissima Digana, Anait Miridzhanian, Jon Boyle, Angus MacSwan).